A long hard struggle for Burma, says campaigner James

Sep 29 2007 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

HUMAN rights campaigner and former prisoner of the Burmese junta James Mawdsley said last night he feared a “long hard struggle and a lot of bloodshed” for pro-democracy defenders in Burma.

But he stressed that he believed they would win “a fight to the end”, adding that many Burmese soldiers secretly supported the protesters.

In 1999, Mr Mawdsley from Brancepeth, County Durham, was sentenced to 17 years in a Burmese jail, thrown into solitary confinement, beaten and had his food contaminated after being caught handing out pro-democracy leaflets.

The 33-year-old was released after 415 days, but continues to protest against the regime in charge of the south east Asian country.

Mr Mawdsley said he drew some comfort from the fact that the jailed protesters would at least be able to rely on each other for moral support and succour.

“I was thrown into solitary confinement but there are not enough jails in Burma to accommodate all the prisoners arrested in the current uprising in solitary. They will draw some comfort and encouragement from each other,” he said.

“I found during my time in jail that the guards and the prisoners hate the regime as well.”

Mr Mawdsley is visiting his brother, John, in Queensland, Australia, from where he told The Journal: “The people of Burma will receive tremendous encouragement from the knowledge that they are not alone. Unlike the last uprising in 1988 when thousands of people were killed the Burmese people know that other towns and cities in the country are also protesting. Last time they were being shot at in one town and had no idea that the uprising had spread elsewhere. They were shut off from the outside world, and even from each other.

“Although it is different this time I fear a long hard struggle with a lot of bloodshed. There will be a lot of deaths, of that I have no doubts.

“But it is important for the West to let the people know they are not forgotten. Burma is in the news now but when it ceases to make headlines the struggle will still be ongoing.”

Mr Mawdsley was held in the notorious Keng Tung prison where beatings broke his nose and blacked his eyes. His food was also contaminated after he wrote slogans on his cell wall.

He was first arrested in 1997 for spraying the word “metta” (peace) on the wall of a Rangoon school.

He was deported but returned in 1998 to make a second protest when he was arrested and held for 99 days.

He then returned in 1999, was arrested and sentenced to 17 years, before being released after serving 415 days in solitary confinement.

He said he was not in touch with the pro-democracy protesters inside Burma.

“Being in touch with me would not help them, but I am being kept informed about developments by people in settlements on the Thai border. I am keeping a very close watch on what is going on.

“The people know – and the military knows – the world is watching what is happening, and it is important to them that we in the West remain focused on that. Burma has reasons to hope. First, there are many soldiers in the Burmese army who do not want to shoot peaceful demonstrators. In the right circumstances, the army could desert the generals. Second, the international community is watching as never before. This must give an enormous boost to morale.

“We must pray for the Burmese people. What we are seeing now, though it may take many months, is a fight to the end.”